cats and snakes...HELP!!

vexling · 12-27-12, 03:00 AM

hey guys, just a quick question, due to roommates having to take over the spare room we have our boa in she is needing to be relocated into our bedroom, however we already have our 3 cats we keep in here with us. Now our concern is the top of the cage, our cats like to climb on alot of high things and this will just be another thing they get on top of, in your opinion what would be the best, most sturdy, material to put on top of the cage. Also how would the heat lamp work in this situation. Any input would be much appreciated!

infernalis · 12-27-12, 03:22 AM

I would use plywood to make a solid top. Problem solved.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-27-12, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infernalis

I would use plywood to make a solid top. Problem solved.

Heat lamp though.

Also, you keep three cats locked in your bedroom? =/

~Maggot

infernalis · 12-27-12, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

Heat lamp though.

Also, you keep three cats locked in your bedroom? =/

~Maggot

Lower the wattage, and mount the socket to the wood.

Lankyrob · 12-27-12, 06:31 AM

Get a melamine viv, locate a ceramic heat emitter inside it with a guard and them let the cats sleep on top of the viv

. Our two cats regularly sleep on top of our vivs as it is nice and warm

Corey209 · 12-27-12, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Get a melamine viv, locate a ceramic heat emitter inside it with a guard and them let the cats sleep on top of the viv

. Our two cats regularly sleep on top of our vivs as it is nice and warm

The guy who's going to build my redwood enclosure refused to use any type of particle board or plywood because he says there are reports of them being toxic to animals. I'd recommend redwood because it's naturally resistant to rot/mold.

Lankyrob · 12-27-12, 06:34 AM

I have seven melamine vivs, one running at 90% humidity and have had no issues. However, if you dont seal them properly and the moisture gets in to the particle then yousre screwed

Corey209 · 12-27-12, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

I have seven melamine vivs, one running at 90% humidity and have had no issues. However, if you dont seal them properly and the moisture gets in to the particle then yousre screwed

Guess that's true, redwood still looks a lot nicer though! :P

**Aaron_S** · 12-27-12, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

I have seven melamine vivs, one running at 90% humidity and have had no issues. However, if you dont seal them properly and the moisture gets in to the particle then yousre screwed

This is true.

Melamine has been used to build COUNTLESS enclosures for reptiles. Easy, cheap, and effective.

Be sure to stain the redwood a lot and let it off-gas before placing any animals into it.

Corey209 · 12-27-12, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

This is true.

Melamine has been used to build COUNTLESS enclosures for reptiles. Easy, cheap, and effective.

Be sure to stain the redwood a lot and let it off-gas before placing any animals into it.

I couldn't find many redwood enclosures but the one thread I found said to let it gas off at least 72 hours but he prefers two weeks. I'm contacting the guy about using melamine again but I think he wants to use redwood since it's his first reptile cage he'll have on picture display for the public.